Attachment of Earnings

A court order directing a debtor's employer to make regular deductions from the debtor's earnings and pay them to the court for the benefit of the judgement creditor. The court sets a protected earnings rate below which deductions cannot reduce the debtor's income.

In practice

The creditor applies to the County Court. The debtor must complete a statement of means. The court then determines the normal deduction rate and protected earnings rate. The employer is legally obliged to comply, and it is a criminal offence for the debtor to fail to provide earnings information. This method is only available against employed individuals, not the self-employed.